08/01/2025
Does Jesus preach in your city? God often tells us to do a certain thing; to reach out to someone, or to establish a church in some place, but once we experience the power of that happening, we are inclined to remain there in that moment or place and bask in the glow of it. How often do we get in God's way once our job is done? How often does Jesus come to take the pulpit only to find us stubbornly standing there?
Jesus taught and preached in the cities of His apostles. He had instructed each of His disciples regarding this, but now the job of reaching out to the inhabitants of those cities belonged to God and others that He would call for that purpose. The desire of Jesus for the efforts of His apostles was meant to lead them elsewhere. Our pride often entices us to remain where the will and glory of God remains fresh in our minds, so that we might continue to claim some of this for ourselves, but that moment, and that praise, is no longer ours… but His alone. He often uses us to build a crescendo of faith in a place or people, but then He wants to step into the pulpit Himself where He will deliver the climax... where He will water the seed that we have obediently sown in His field.
“When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.”
Matthew 11:1 ESV
When we experience something holy, we are tempted to camp out there and never leave, but that isn't what Jesus desires us to do. He wants us to do exactly what we have been instructed by God to do and then, if the Lord sends us elsewhere, to skedaddle... to get out of His way.
In an operating room the most skilled surgeon will often ask one of his interns to open the incision for him (or her) and to then to step aside as he performs the delicate surgery. After his work is complete, he will ask another of them to close up the wound and a nurse to dress it. Jesus did this with His disciples, and He often does it with us as well. We can lead someone to Christ, but then we are often told to step aside while Jesus deals with the heart and soul we have prepared or circumcised for Him... we need to move out of the way and let Him take charge of our city. This is contrary to our nature and it takes great restraint and obedience on our part.
A good example of this is when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountain and they witnessed Moses and Elias speaking with Him and heard the voice of God. That moment was incredibly Holy and in their overwhelming excitement with being this close to God, they never wanted to leave... they wanted to stay right there; to construct permanent structures and remain in the presence of God forever; but God desired that they move on and use what they had just witnessed for His purposes. Listen to Peter...
“Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.”
Matthew 17:4 KJV
Lead surgeons don't desire for those who assist them in an operation to remain between themselves and their patients, and Jesus wants us to move out of His way too. The operating room is a dynamic, yet temporary, place, and no one stays or lives there beyond the few minutes in which the incision remains open. There is too much work to be done elsewhere for anyone to do more than tarry there for a moment.
Jesus tells us when to stay and when to go, He will always fill the void with His presence when we leave, and then call on the Holy Spirit, but this can't happen if we are in the way. Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit would come upon them, but if you notice He instructed them to "linger" in Jerusalem until this occurs... not to stay there.
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”
Luke 24:47-49 KJV
It is incredibly important for us to hear the call of God and to obey it, but it is just as important to step aside when He desires to teach and preach in the city we would like to call our own. Sometimes our very nature makes this handoff a messy affair... we just don't want to let go.
I love watching track and field, and one of my favorite events is the 4x100 relay. This event combines amazing speed with the fluid and delicate handing off of a baton. A team might have the fastest runners on the track but lose the race because their handoffs were not clean... someone holds on too long, the baton is dropped, or the handoff does not occur within the distance allotted for this to occur. Have you ever wondered if you are smoothly handing the baton off to God when it is His turn to anchor the race? When your leg of the race has been run and a soul has been led to Him have you obediently handed the baton to the Lord so that His victory could be realized? This requires great coordination between the two of you and it is just as important as the blazing speed of running the race itself.
We must come when God calls and go when He desires to take over. It is a delicate and yet painful transition. How often do we confuse who we serve? It is so tempting to become involved in our calling to the point where we think we are duty bound to carry the baton forever... when in fact it is God's will we are meant to serve. Does Jesus preach in our city? Do we step away from the pulpit as He steps in? Does God ultimately win the race and claim the glory?
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for calling me to serve you, and I pray that when you arrive to take the pulpit I will step aside gracefully. Holy Father, it is you and your will that I wish to honor, and in which I desire to place my trust. Whether you need me to remain for a minute, a year, or a lifetime... let me always be ready and willing to yield to you when you come to preach and teach in the city I have prepared for your arrival. Jesus taught in the cities of His apostles, and Father, I long for you to teach in mine. Your arrival signals a job well done in me, and I pray that I will drop to my knees before you. Send me Lord, and let me answer your call with eagerness, but then call me away when it is your desire to do so, and let me go with the same eagerness I knew when I came, because just as Jesus told His disciples that He must go so that the comforter could come, I must go too so that your will can be done. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God, the great healer, teacher, comforter, and the breath of life in your Holy Word. Holy are you who sends me and then calls me away. Perfect is your will that guides me…but help me Father to listen intently and obey your every Word, especially when I hear you telling me I should go, stay, and then depart. By my obedience in these things I serve you best and honor you most. In your victory celebration I say with all of heaven “Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who was, and is, and is to come”. In your victory I claim my Amen and shout Hallelujah!
Amen, Amen, Amen, and Hallelujah!
“And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.”
Mattthew 10:11 ESV
“And whoever welcomes one child like this in my name welcomes me. “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to fall away—it would be better for him if a heavy millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 18:5-6 CSB
Rich Forbes